The school district and Neenan originally began working together for a new concession stand and gymnasium, although district-wide improvements were really needed. Once the BEST program was announced, the goals for the District changed dramatically. Neenan partnered with Monte Vista for a successful bond and mill levy override campaign in 2008.

Monte Vista High School is organized around traditional classrooms on one side of the main hall and project based-learning areas for science labs, art rooms and vocational shops on the other. Through careful planning, designers were able to achieve daylighting in 100% of the classroom spaces in the building. The cafeteria is a multi-functional space that also serves as a student commons and is used for assemblies.

Monte Vista High School is designed for 400 high school students and construction took place on an operational school campus. Safety of students and school neighbors was a primary focus for the construction of this 96,979 SF new school.